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I-Connect007 Magazine previews APEX EXPO 2026, covering everything from the show floor to the technical conference. For PCB designers, we move past the dreaded auto-router and spotlight AI design tools that actually matter.
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Arlon EMD Accelerates Investments in Operations
January 24, 2019 | Arlon EMDEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Arlon EMD, a veteran-owned manufacturer of high-performance polyimide and other specialty resin materials based in Rancho Cucamonga, California, has completed another phase of facility improvements targeting enhanced cleanliness of laminate and prepreg. This investment in operational improvements is the third in the past 18 months and the fifth capital investment over the past 36 months focused on material cleanliness.
With this latest improvement, Arlon EMD has more than doubled the quantity of air going through HEPA filtration in its laminate build-up area. In conjunction with the additional HEPA filtration units, focused deionization devices have been installed in strategic locations to eliminate electro-static charging of materials during the build-up process. In parallel with these efforts, Arlon EMD has installed additional LED lighting resulting in a 20% increase in illumination of the build-up area.
With an ongoing focus on FOD elimination, Arlon EMD operators in the laminate build-up areas now wear specialized containment clothing under their clean room attire to eliminate the possibility of garment related contamination. “As we continue to invest in various areas of our operations, making improvements in FOD reduction remains a top priority,” said John Wright, Arlon EMD’s Quality Manger. “Arlon is committed to delivering materials to our customers with the highest performance and quality standards. Elimination of FOD is an integral part of this commitment.”
Arlon will be exhibiting at IPC APEX EXPO in San Diego, January 29-31, booth #214.
About Arlon
Arlon EMD is veteran-owned and privately held by CriticalPoint Capital. Arlon EMD is a US manufacturer and distributor of specialty materials. Arlon has supplied materials for the N. American, UK and European markets for more than 25 years from their manufacturing location in Rancho Cucamonga, California. Visit www.arlonemd.com.
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Julia McCaffrey - NCAB GroupSuggested Items
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
05/08/2026 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007This week, I’ve selected some outstanding interviews that you’ll want to take note of. First, is a roundtable discussion featuring three dynamic industry cybersecurity experts. Please watch this important discussion that affects us all. Following that, I spotlight the IPC-2581 Consortium, which explains why IPC-2581 is the standard to replace Gerber data for manufacturing. Next, I am including my interview with PCBAA and AAM, who collaborated to release a short documentary on U.S. PCB manufacturing.
Global Electronics Association to Testify at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative Panel on Section 301 Structural Excess Capacity
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Hall of Fame Spotlight Series: Highlighting Karen McConnell
05/07/2026 | Dan Feinberg, I-Connect007In 2021, Karen McConnell was awarded the Raymond E. Pritchard Hall of Fame award in recognition of her contributions to the Association and the electronics industry. As a senior staff member and CAD/CAM engineer at Northrop Grumman Enterprise Services, her primary responsibility was to develop a common, shared EDM (Electronic Document Management) library to support the electrical and PCB design tool initiatives across Northrop Grumman Mission Systems.
A Necessary Shift From Gerber to IPC-2581
05/07/2026 | Tracy Riggan, Global Electronics AssociationIPC-2581 is an open, vendor-neutral data exchange standard developed by the Global Electronics Association to streamline the exchange of PCB design information across fabrication, assembly, and test. It replaces multiple legacy formats—including industry standards, Gerber, and ODB++—with a single, comprehensive, XML-based dataset that captures all manufacturing details.
TTC-LLC and TTCI: Smarter Training, Stronger Test at PCB East 2026
04/27/2026 | The Test Connection Inc.The Training Connection LLC (TTC-LLC) and The Test Connection, Inc. (TTCI) will be exhibiting together at PCB East 2026, taking place April 28–May 1 at the DCU Convention Center in Worcester, Massachusetts. Attendees can find both teams at Booth #103 during the main exhibition day on Wednesday, April 29.